15. Rogue
“Iwanna go home.”
The woman sitting in the chair across from me is a far cry from the confident beauty who works behind the bar. Her cheeks are streaked from tears, and her eyes are red from crying.
“Yeah, not happening,” Soul says unapologetically as he paces.
“You can’t keep me here,” Skye retorts.
Abyss signs for Grim when Skye speaks, and when he finishes her last argument, Grim throws his head back and laughs.
“We can, and we will,” he returns.
Skye watches Grim but whips her head in my direction when I translate. “Can I at least have my cell so I can text him instead of waiting for translations and shit?”
I glance at Soul who simply nods. Reaching toward the middle of the table, I grab her phone but ignore the knife that was taken from her possession before we even left Purgatory. I toss the phone at her, and Skye easily catches it despite the way her body trembles with anger and fear.
“Thanks,” she mutters and then begins to tap the screen of her phone.
Two seconds later, Grim reaches into his pocket and takes out his cell. He glances at it before throwing his head back and laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I demand.
Grim shakes his head.
“Can we get back to business?” Malice gripes. “I’d really like to spend what time Apple has left at home with her and not you dipshits.”
“I thought she was home for a while now,” Abyss comments.
“She’s leaving tomorrow for a gig in Vegas.”
“So, she’ll be gone one night?”
“Yeah.”
“Jesus Christ, how will you ever survive?” Abyss taunts.
“Fuck off,” Malice snaps. “I’d like to see how you do without Mel.”
“Shut up!” Skye shouts, and we all stare at her. “Normally, I’d love to listen to you banter back and forth about your love lives, but right now, I’d prefer you do whatever the hell you’ve gotta do with me and then let me go.”
“Do you really think you’re in a position to dictate how this is gonna play out?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes. “You wanna dive right in? Fine, we’ll dive all the way into the deep end. How long have you been skimming money from the registers?”
Skye flinches. “I haven’t taken any money.”
“How much have you managed to pocket?” Soul demands.
“I haven’t taken any money.”
“Did we look like an easy target to you?” Malice asks.
“I haven’t taken any money.”
Round and round we go. Skye’s response never changes. For five solid minutes, we bombard her with question after question, and she doesn’t waver. She’s like a trained CIA operative… until she isn’t.
“When did you start stealing from Purgatory?” I ask for what has to be the hundredth time.
Skye’s temper flares. “I haven’t taken any fucking money!” she screams, jumping to her feet. “I don’t know how that cash got into my locker, but the only reason my drawer would ever be short is because I suck at math.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I snarl.
“What?”
I heave a sigh. “Skye, do you seriously think we didn’t have a thorough background check done on you before you were hired?”
“Then you should know I’m not a criminal,” she huffs out.
“Every thief has to start somewhere,” Soul states.
“How many times do I have to tell you… I. Haven’t. Taken. Any. Money.” She enunciates each word slowly. “I just su?—”
“Suck at math,” I supply. “Yeah, so you’ve said. Shit, I’ll concede that your inability to add and subtract gives a solid reason as to why there was money missing the night the registers went down. But it doesn’t explain tonight or any other night Waylon discovered shortages.”
“Wait a second,” Soul says and steps in front of me. “Waylon’s known about this?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why are we just dealing with it now?” Malice barks.
“Because he couldn’t prove it was Skye taking the money,” I explain. “But the missing money from tonight was in her locker which is proof.”
“All it proves is that I’m being set up,” Skye cries.
I contemplate her words, and my heart skips a beat. Could she be right? Is she being set up?
No. Just because I wanna have my way with her doesn’t mean I should fall for her lies.
Think with the bigger head, dumbass.
“How can I make you believe me?” Skye asks quietly.
Soul steps to the side and turns to face her. “You can’t.”
“Then do whatever the fuck it is you’re gonna do to me,” she pleads. “If I have to pay for someone else’s sins, so be it.”
I close the distance between us and push her back into the chair. Leaning forward, my nose practically touching hers, I open my mouth to explain exactly how she’s going to be punished, but the door banging open stops me.
I whirl in that direction, as do my brothers, and my brows shoot up when I spot Jez, Apple, Violet, Cece, and Mel standing there like avenging angels.
“Stop,” Cece orders.
“What are you doing in here?” Soul asks.
“I tapped into the security feed,” Jez admits with a shrug. “Wanted to know what you were doing to Skye because she looked terrified when you first brought her into the clubhouse.”
“You all need to leave,” Soul growls. “This is club business.”
Violet, the quietest of the bunch, steps forward with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes shine with rage, and her skin is flushed. Grim begins to walk to her, but she holds a hand up to stop him.
“You need to let Skye go,” Violet says. “She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“How the fuck could you possibly know that?” I bite out.
“Because.” Violet takes a deep breath. “I know what’s going on.”